My guest today is Stefan Scorchev, a bridge player, friend, and the creator of IntoBridge. For those who are unaware, IntoBridge is a free platform for online bridge games. In his childhood, Stefan learned the value of online bridge as he spent hours playing bridge every day, and found that playing bridge online encouraged him compete at in-person tournaments.

Stefan is the first Bulgarian guest I've had on the show, and I fist met him in 2012 when he played on the Bulgarian team in the Junior Nationals. We talk about in-person and virtual bridge, the unique features of IntoBridge that borrow from modern gaming, and what it's like to run a bridge startup.

You can learn more about IntoBridge on its website: https://intobridge.com/

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Episode Highlights:

4:58 – Stefan played bridge online constantly in his childhood, and moved into in-person tournaments at seventeen. He says he played bridge as much as fifteen hours a day.

12:05 – Stefan says he is the strangest looking person at tournaments because he always wears his IntoBridge merchandise.

16:05 – "We focused on inventing something that has the potential that you close it immediately and continue whenever you can."

17:35 0:54 – Ranked matchups on IntoBridge

24:17 – The Daily exists to give people a reason to return to IntoBridge every day.

28:47 – Stefan has a lot of ideas for new bridge formats unique to IntoBridge

32:45 – Some unfortunate mis-clicks

40:12 – Bridge marketing is difficult, so word of mouth has been the best marketing channel for IntoBridge

48:22 – Running a startup is difficult as investors and employees rely on the performance of the business

56:46 – Having access to a free bridge platform as a kid was game-changing for Stefan.

57:59 – One great aspect of online bridge is that it naturally leads people into in-person bridge, encouraging them to meet more people.

1:02:41 – Stefan's Fiance, Desi, is coming to the US Nationals for the first time.